Electrophotographic photoreceptor, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge

Abstract

An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer located overlying the conductive substrate which includes a naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide derivative having a specific formula; and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the electrophotographic photoreceptor are provided.

1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, comprising:
 a conductive substrate; and 
 a photosensitive layer located overlying the conductive substrate, comprising a naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide derivative having the following formula (1): 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; each of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and R 8  independently represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; wherein R 1  and R 2  do not share bond connectivity to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group containing a nitrogen atom; and R 3  and R 4  do not share bond connectivity to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group containing a nitrogen atom. 
       
     
     
       2. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive layer comprises:
 a charge generation layer; and 
 a charge transport layer located overlying the charge generation layer. 
 
     
     
       3. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive layer comprises:
 a charge transport layer; and 
 a charge generation layer located overlying the charge transport layer. 
 
     
     
       4. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive layer is single-layered. 
     
     
       5. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive layer further comprises a charge transport material. 
     
     
       6. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 5 , wherein the charge transport material comprises a stilbene derivative having the following formula (2): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein X represents a single bond or a vinylene group; R 1  represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; Ar 1  represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; R 5  represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; Ar 1  and R 5  may optionally share bond connectivity to form a ring; and A represents a group having the following formulae (3) or (4), a 9-anthryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted carbazolyl group: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 2  represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, or a group having the following formula (5); m represents an integer of from 1 to 3; and when m is 2 or 3, multiple R 2  may be, but need not necessarily be, the same: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 3  and R 4  independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; and R 3  and R 4  may optionally share bond connectivity to form a ring. 
       
     
     
       7. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 5 , wherein the charge transport material comprises an aminobiphenyl derivative having the following formula (6): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 1 , R 3 , and R 4  independently represents a hydrogen atom, an amino group, an alkoxy group, a thioalkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a methylenedioxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a halogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; R 2  represents a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a halogen atom; each of k, l, m, and n independently represents an integer of from 1 to 4; and when k, l, m, and n each are 2, 3, or 4, multiple R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  each may be, but need not necessarily be, the same. 
       
     
     
       8. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 5 , wherein the charge transport material comprises a distilbene derivative having the following formula (7): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein X represents a single bond or a vinylene group; R 1  represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; Ar 1  represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; R 3  represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; Ar 1  and R 3  may optionally share bond connectivity to form a ring; R 4  represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; and Ar 2  represents a group having the following formulae (8) or (9): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 2  represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a halogen atom; m represents an integer of from 1 to 3; and when m is 2 or 3, multiple R 2  may be, but need not necessarily be, the same. 
       
     
     
       9. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 5 , wherein the charge transport material comprises a divinyl derivative having the following formula (10): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein X represents a single bond or a vinylene group; R 1  represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; Ar 1  represents a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group; R 5  represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; and A represents a group having the following formulae (3) or (4), a 9-anthryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted carbazolyl group: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 2  represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, or a group having the following formula (5); m represents an integer of from 1 to 3; and when m is 2 or 3, multiple R 2  may be, but need not necessarily be, the same: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 3  and R 4  independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; and R 3  and R 4  may optionally share bond connectivity to form a ring. 
       
     
     
       10. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 the electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 1 ; 
 a charger configured to charge the electrophotographic photoreceptor; 
 an irradiator configured to irradiate the charged electrophotographic photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; 
 a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image; and 
 a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium. 
 
     
     
       11. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the irradiator comprises a laser diode or a light-emitting diode. 
     
     
       12. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the photosensitive layer comprises:
 a charge generation layer; and 
 a charge transport layer located overlying the charge generation layer. 
 
     
     
       13. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the photosensitive layer comprises:
 a charge transport layer; and 
 a charge generation layer located overlying the charge transport layer. 
 
     
     
       14. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the photosensitive layer is single-layered. 
     
     
       15. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the photosensitive layer further comprises a charge transport material. 
     
     
       16. A process cartridge, comprising:
 the electrophotographic photoreceptor according to  claim 1 ; and 
 at least one of a charger, an irradiator, a developing device, and a cleaning device. 
 
     
     
       17. The process cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the photosensitive layer comprises:
 a charge generation layer; and 
 a charge transport layer located overlying the charge generation layer. 
 
     
     
       18. The process cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the photosensitive layer comprises:
 a charge transport layer; and 
 a charge generation layer located overlying the charge transport layer. 
 
     
     
       19. The process cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the photosensitive layer is single-layered. 
     
     
       20. The process cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the photosensitive layer further comprises a charge transport material.